If you're asking who won 49ers or rams, the answer depends entirely on which Sunday you're looking at. These two teams spent the better part of the 2025-26 season trying to one-up each other, and honestly, the results were all over the map. One week it was a defensive grind-fest in Inglewood, and the next, it was a total offensive explosion in Santa Clara.
In their most recent regular-season meeting on November 9, 2025, the Los Angeles Rams dominated the San Francisco 49ers with a 42-26 victory. It wasn't even as close as that 16-point gap suggests. Matthew Stafford looked like he’d found the fountain of youth, carving up the Niners' secondary while San Francisco struggled to find any rhythm with Mac Jones under center after some mid-season roster shuffles.
The Week 10 Blowout: Why the Rams Owned the Last Matchup
The November meeting at Levi’s Stadium was supposed to be a heavyweight bout. Instead, it felt like a mismatch from the opening kickoff. The Rams jumped out to a 21-0 lead before some fans had even found their seats. Stafford was surgical, finishing with four touchdown passes and zero interceptions—a performance that set an NFL record for his third straight game with those specific numbers.
San Francisco’s defense, which has been the pride of the Bay for years, just had no answers. They couldn't get pressure, and the Rams' offensive line gave Stafford enough time to read a book before finding Davante Adams or Colby Parkinson.
The turning point? A brutal fumble by Jauan Jennings in the first half. The 49ers were finally moving the ball, looking like they might cut into that early lead, and then—pop—the ball was out. The Rams recovered, scored again, and the air just left the building.
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The Week 5 Overtime Thriller: 49ers Strike Back
If you go back to the beginning of October, the story was completely different. On October 2, 2025, the 49ers beat the Rams 26-23 in an overtime heart-stopper on Thursday Night Football.
This game was basically the opposite of the blowout. It was messy, physical, and came down to which kicker had more ice in their veins. Eddy Piñeiro eventually nailed a 41-yarder in the extra period to seal it. The Rams had a chance to answer, but the Niners' defense—the version of it that actually showed up that month—stopped Kyren Williams on 4th-and-1 to end the game.
It's funny how a season changes. In October, San Francisco looked like the team that could handle adversity. By November, they looked like a team searching for an identity.
49ers vs Rams: 2025-26 Regular Season Results
- October 2, 2025: San Francisco 49ers 26, Los Angeles Rams 23 (OT)
- November 9, 2025: Los Angeles Rams 42, San Francisco 49ers 26
The series split 1-1 for the regular season, which is pretty fitting for this rivalry. They both finished the year with 12-5 records, but thanks to tiebreakers and a late-season surge by the Seattle Seahawks, neither of them actually took home the NFC West crown.
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Where They Are Now: January 2026 Playoffs
As of mid-January 2026, both teams are still alive in the postseason, though they aren't playing each other yet.
The Rams just survived a wild Wild Card game against the Carolina Panthers, winning 34-31. Stafford did Stafford things, leading a 71-yard drive in the final minutes to set up a game-winning touchdown to Colby Parkinson. They are headed to Chicago this Sunday to take on the Bears in the Divisional Round.
Meanwhile, the 49ers just knocked out the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles. That win sets them up for a massive Saturday night showdown against their other hated rival, the Seattle Seahawks.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 49ers or Rams Rivalry
A lot of folks assume that because the 49ers have historically "owned" the regular season matchups (they lead the all-time series 79–72–3), they always have the upper hand. But the Rams have this weird habit of winning the games that feel "heavier."
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The 2025-26 season showed that the Rams' ceiling is incredibly high when Stafford is protected. On the flip side, the 49ers' floor is surprisingly low when their pass rush disappears. People keep waiting for the Rams' "old" core to fall off a cliff, but it just hasn't happened yet.
Key Factors That Decided the Games
The discrepancy in the scores came down to three specific things:
- Quarterback Consistency: Stafford was a rock for the Rams in both games. Mac Jones (filling in during the second half of the season) had moments of brilliance but was plagued by that one "back-breaking" interception in the November loss.
- Red Zone Efficiency: In the Rams' win, they went 4-for-5 in the red zone. In the 49ers' win, they held the Rams to field goals.
- Turnover Margin: You simply cannot turn the ball over against Sean McVay. The 49ers learned that the hard way in November, losing the turnover battle 2-0.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you're looking at these teams for the Divisional Round or even thinking about next season, keep these takeaways in mind:
- Watch the Injury Report on Fred Warner: The Niners' defense is a different animal without him at 100%. His status is the single biggest factor in whether they can get past Seattle.
- Don't Bet Against Stafford in the Clutch: The guy is 37 and still playing like he's 25 when the game is on the line. The Rams are currently 3.5-point road favorites against the Bears for a reason.
- The NFC West is Wide Open: With the Seahawks, Rams, and 49ers all finishing with double-digit wins, this is easily the most competitive division in football right now.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the official injury reports released on Fridays. For the 49ers, the health of Christian McCaffrey’s Achilles remains a nagging storyline that could derail their Super Bowl ambitions if it flares up again during the Seattle game. For the Rams, it's all about whether their young secondary can hold up against Caleb Williams and the Bears' passing attack.
Check the Saturday night results for the 49ers-Seahawks game first. If the Niners win that, and the Rams beat the Bears on Sunday, we are looking at a potential NFC Championship rematch between San Francisco and Los Angeles. That would be the ultimate "who won" tiebreaker for 2026.